11 Best Indoor Activities in Dubai – Away From The Sun, Still Fun!

Who says you can't ski in the desert? In Dubai, anything is possible! Ski Dubai is a 22,500-meter indoor ski resort. The winter-themed attraction is located in The Mall of Emirates, one of the world's largest shopping malls. Jump on a chairlift and take in sweeping views of the entire snow park, take a ride on the Giant Ball, fly through air on the Snow Bullet zip line, sip hot chocolate at the Avalanche Cafe, and enjoy the rare opportunity to interact with penguins. The park is equipped with a toboggan run, a freestyle zone with jumps and rails, plus, five ski runs. Ski Dubai is the perfect place to learn the basics of snowboarding and skiing. Whether you're taking your fist steps on the slopes as a beginner, or tackling advanced runs, the park is enjoyable for all ages. All necessary gear is available at on the premises, but be sure to bring your own beanie and gloves. If you're interested in group lessons, it’s best to reserve your spot in advance. (For families planning to visit Ski Dubai, keep in mind that, as a safety precaution, children under 3 years of age are not allowed in the park.)

Experience the thrill of ice skating for the first time, or perfect your skills at Dubai's favorite ice rink, Dubai Ice Rink. Located in the Dubai Mall, this Olympic-sized rink is the largest in the Middle East. Basic sessions give you 105 minutes on the ice. Every night of the week, skate the sounds of an in-house DJ. Freestyle sessions bring you the best of hip-hop, electronic, pop, and even disco! The venue offers skate lessons, birthday parties, and weekly ice skating sessions for the little ones.

Other ice skating rinks in Dubai-

Al Nasr Leisureland

Al Nasr, built on 48 acres, is a complex dedicated to family leisure activities. A major centre for sports and entertainment, Leisureland has a bowling alley, an ice rink, tennis courts, squash courts, a swimming pool, and a full fitness centre. There's also a performing arts hall that hosts everything from fashion shows and music concerts, to dinners and wedding receptions. Interesting fact - it's the practice rink for the Dubai Mighty Camels, UAE's homegrown ice hockey league! The rink is located in Oud Metha, behind the American Hospital in Bur Dubai.

The Galleria

A winter wonderland nestled inside the Galleria at the Hyatt Regency, this ice rink was the first to open in Dubai. Built in the 1980's, it's been offering respite from the desert sun ever since.

The Arabian Centre

This ice rink is slightly different than the others in that, well, it's not actually ice. The rink is made of synthetic ice, which means it's less cold and less slippery than traditional ice rinks, making it a good choice for young children. Arabian Centre is located near Midriff, on the outskirts of Dubai.

Bounce is the largest trampoline playground in Dubai for adults. Fly through the air and bounce off the walls. From adrenalin junkies and air-sport athletes to kids and moms, everyone loves this place. It’s filled with trampolines, and, to ensure safety, is equipped with circus grade paddings. There's also a dodgeball court, a giant inflatable airbag, a performance area, and a couple of slam dunk hoops.

If you're not quite ready to jump out of a plane - but are intrigued by the idea of sky diving, head to iFLY in City Centre Mirdif. It's the perfect place for thrill-seekers to experience the closest thing to flying. The famous skydive simulator is suitable for adults and children.

Combining augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), the VR Park is the first of its kind in the Middle East. Via 18 interactive experiences and rides it creates an escapism from reality to an imaginary nirvana. This park is a gamers haven and shrieks adventure all round. The Park features virtual reality landscape across all genres - adrenaline, horror, leisure and more. Though the entry to this VR world is free, each ride costs anything between AED 15 to AED 45 and promises to allow you some of the finest VR, AR and location-based immersive experiences technologically possible!

For all those of you who love brainteasers brimming with physical and mental challenges, Dubai has come up with the world’s first urban indoor maze of its kind called Jumble Dubai. Spread over 3,500 sq m space, fabricated with twists, turns, brightly coloured doors and brick walls, Jumble Dubai is a huge maze located in Al Barsha. As you keep finishing the challenges in one room you move on to the next which has its own rules and obstacles. The catch that makes these puzzles all the more challenging is that they are time sensitive- if you don't solve a puzzle in time, you go back to the first room all over again. Several teams can play simultaneously making Jumble a hub of thrilling excitement for so many people scurrying from one room to another of the maze!

Had a rough day, week or year (2020 has been all sorts of stressful). If you're looking for a different kind of therapy, a rebel's version of a day spa - how does a smash room sound? Would breaking a thing or two help relax your nerves and vent your frustration? If the answeris a yes, head straight to Smash Room Dubai. A uniquely rejuvenating concept that lends you weapons of your choice be it sledgehammers, crowbars or baseball bats to smither your frustration and all things present. The room is filled with old furniture, TVs, laptops, and mannequins, and you get to choose your weapon and smash away! It's fun and therapuetic, all at once.

Imagine an indoor tropical rainforest that is home to over 3,000 species of flora and fauna. That's exactly what Green Planet Dubai is. This spectacular bio-dome is a great educational and recreational space for kids, and adults won't be disappointed either. As you walk into the building, you will be dazzled by the verdant greenery and sense the warm humidity that makes you feel like you are standing in the Amazon and not Dubai. There is also a wonderful variety of tropical fish to gaze at and, those feeling brave, can even hold a Python!

The Lost Chambers Aquarium in the Atlantis Hotel, houses around 65,000 marine creatures in over 21 aquariums and is designed like the lost city of Atlantis. Its labyrinth of underwater halls gives you the illusion of being submerged in water with marine life all around you - fishes, sharks, lobsters, jellyfish, seahorses and even albino alligators! There are many experiences you can partake in, at the aquarium, including a behind-the-scenes tour, where you can learn about some deep, dark secrets of the ocean from the in-house experts. Apart from the underwater observatory, you even have the option to touch and hold some of the creatures like starfish and sea-urchins for a more immersive experience at the ‘Touch Tank’. You can also swim amongst the sharks, napoleon wrasse and other intriguing sea creatures.

Enter a realm of deception with your friends and family and experience the mind-boggling phenomenon of optical illusion with these Dubai Museum of illusions.Question your senses, as the various illusions confuse your sense of balance, sight, and hearing, making you see and feel things that you thought were impossible! the Dubai edition is the biggest one to date with 80-plus interactive exhibits. The enchanting world of illusions is designed to trick your minds, challenge your senses, fuel your imagination, educate you and thoroughly confuse you as nothing is what it seems.

Kidzania offers kids, along with their parents, a realistic physical environment to role play and mimic activities done by adults in real life. Suitable for kids between 4 and 16 years of age, Kidzania Dubai is an interactive edutainment centre perfect to keep your kids entertained for hours together. Note, adults are not allowed inside the activity establishments, but there is a parent's lounge where adults have free internet access, a TV lounge and a café.